Torre di Vada, Medieval defense tower in Vada, Italy

Torre di Vada is a square-plan watchtower near the church of San Leopoldo Re, a short distance from the coast. Massive buttresses line almost its full height, and the interior is divided into five levels, including a walkable roof terrace. The upper section was raised after the war and restored between 1990 and 1995.

The tower was built at the end of the 13th century by the Pisans to warn sailors of the dangerous shallows of Vada and to watch for threats from the sea. After the decline of the Republic of Pisa it passed to the Florentines, who restored it in the 15th century and made it part of the coastal watch system south of Livorno. In the 19th century, its military role over, it kept working as a lighthouse until 1979.

The tower now houses the Laboratorio di educazione ambientale, an environmental education laboratory, and opens to visitors during cultural events. Its name comes from the Vada shallows it was built to signal to sailors. Nearby stands the church of San Leopoldo Re.

The tower can be reached from Via della Torre, with a parking area about 350 meters away that serves as a good starting point for your visit. Several restaurants nearby offer convenient spots to take a break.

The tower kept a lighthouse function until 1979; around 1950 its pitched roof was demolished to install a longer-range light. The upper section was raised after the war and restored between 1990 and 1995, which explains the present outline.